LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: Sean Pedulla #00 of the LA Clippers dribbles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 17, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to his agent, George Langberg, guard Sean Pedulla and the Houston Rockets have reached an agreement on a two-way contract.
Pedulla, 23, joins Quadir Copeland and Tristen Newton as Houston’s final available two-way position. Players can play for both an NBA team and its G League affiliate under two-way contracts.
After four seasons in college—three with Virginia Tech and one with Mississippi—Pedulla was not selected in the 2025 draft. In February, he signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers after succeeding with Portland’s G League club, the Rip City Remix. He was named G League Rookie of the Year after finishing the season with an average of 20.3 points and 4.5 assists on effective shooting.
The 6-foot-1 guard doesn’t appear to have a clear route to playing in the NBA the following season. Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, and Fred VanVleet are Houston’s return guards. In addition, the Rockets acquired Bruce Thornton with the 31st pick in the 2026 draft and Marcus Smart in free agency. Houston has made a few attempts at smaller guards (Thornton is listed at six feet), who are mostly known for their scoring prowess, with Thornton and Pedulla.
Pedulla will be the Rockets’ third two-way slot after Houston signed Quadir Copeland to a new two-way contract last month and carried over Tristen Newton from the 2025–2026 season on a two-year, two-way contract.
With this additon, the Rockets will have 19 players under contract after the signing is finalized, leaving two spots available on their 21-man offseason roster. Twelve players now have fully guaranteed standard contracts, two have non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed salary, two have Exhibit 10 arrangements, and Newton and Copeland have two-way agreements.
With all that said, how do you all feel about the signing? Do you expect Pedulla to see any playing time? Let us know, and make sure to check back at The DreamShake for more Houston Rockets basketball news.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Carlos Rodón #55 (L) and Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees pose for a photo before the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NY Daily News | Gary Phillips: The Yankee rotation has been elite nearly all season, but they just haven’t been able to be at full strength at any point during their dominant run. Monday was the closest they’d come yet, as Carlos Rodón was set to return today following a strong outing in his latest rehab start for Double-A Somerset, but then news dropped that Max Fried was returning to the IL with a bone bruise in his elbow. This is the same injury that shelved Fried from mid-May well into July, though it’s unclear at this time if it’s a re-aggravation of the old injury or a new one altogether. Regardless, the Yankees will slot Rodón into Fried’s place in the rotation and keep the line moving, ensuring that the long-awaited decision on who would get moved to the bullpen gets punted down the road once again.
Baseball America | Eli-Ben Porat ($): BA took a look at two Yankees prospects having made different but remarkable strides this season. Antonio Gomez has converted into a pitcher after coming up through the system as a catcher, and his 70-grade arm strength behind the plate has transferred over remarkably into a reliever with 80-grade velocity and a pair of plus-pitches. He’s still got a ways to go in his journey to the majors, but Marco Luciano could be knocking on the door after reviving his prospects with New York this season following a move to second base. The position could be in a state of flux this offseason, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. is scheduled to hit free agency and Anthony Volpe is practicing there as well following his ouster from being the full-time shortstop, but Luciano’s power tool is enticing and he’s redefined his process of attacking pitches while still keeping his chase rates in line. If you’ve got a BA subscription, it’s worth a read at what two under the radar guys have done.
ESPN | Jeff Passan: The world has been saying their goodbyes to an icon of the sport since Saturday when Tommy John passed away at the age of 83, and Passan praises the life of a man whose name may be the most synonymous with modern baseball. As he put it: “Every day during baseball season, and plenty in the offseason, Tommy John — always his first and last name together — is talked about, written about, bandied about.” He’s absolutely correct, and the sport would not have had the pitching evolution we’ve experienced over the last decade or so without the risk that Tommy John took in agreeing to the procedure he’d become the moniker for. Rest easy to a legend of the sport.
NJ.com | Jerry Izenberg: Baseball is heading to a bitter labor dispute after this season, and that comes as no surprise to anyone. Though the commissioner may have gotten his start in labor relations Rob Manfred now works first and foremost for the good of the owners, which to be clear is by design. The Players’ Union has a united front on battling against a salary cap but they lack a front-facing leader after the scandalous resignation of Tony Clark, and I think that may be felt in how their message has gotten lost on some fans who see millionaires complaining and a lone team flexing their financial might to long-term success. Izenberg takes us on a journey to remember the advocate for the game that Casey Stengel was, and bemoans that the fans don’t have an icon quite like him in the game today.
Amazon Prime captures strain of manager’s final season
Club chair says Spaniard threatened to leave ‘100 times’
Pep Guardiola clashed with his captain and almost broke down in tears as he railed at players during his worst run as Manchester City manager.
Guardiola stood down at the end of last season after winning 20 trophies in a 10-year spell at the Etihad Stadium. One of the lowest points of his glittering reign came during a testing run in the autumn of 2024, when City lost nine times and won only once in 13 games. Guardiola outwardly showed signs of strain, notably when he scratched his face after City surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Former Test opener fined $1,500 after failing a breath-test at Easter
Future work opportunities will be affected, says barrister
Australian cricket great David Warner has lamented global media attention about his drink-driving offence, suggesting it cost him valuable overseas commercial opportunities.
The 39-year-old was convicted and fined $1,500 on Tuesday for mid-range drink-driving after he tried to switch seats with a passenger when approaching a random breath-testing site on Easter Sunday.
The original report was stunning: The Buss family had voted and planned to sell its remaining 17.8% stake in the Lakers to incoming owners Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger. That sale would mean the Buss family's ownership of the team, which started in 1979, would be completely over. The end of an era. With that, Jeanie Buss would have to step down as the team's governor (a role that requires at least a 15% ownership stake, by league rules).
Then came a follow-up report saying the other five Buss siblings had approached Jeanie Buss and asked for the sale, forcing a vote that approved the move.
Within hours of that report, Jeanie Buss and her attorney, Adam Streisand of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton Law, pushed back against that. Streisand sent a strongly worded letter to the attorney for the other siblings — obtained by CNBC — stating that previous legal rulings made that move impossible. From the letter:
"[No selling of the] 17.8% ownership interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. can be effectuated without approval by the current co-trustees, i.e., Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss. The co-trustees are bound to vote the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. shares to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner. Any attempt by the co-trustees to do otherwise, and any attempt to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court."
The six Buss siblings — Jeanie Buss, Jim Buss, Johnny Buss, Janie Buss, Joey Buss, and Jesse Buss (all children of the late owner Jerry Buss) — own their shares together through what has been described to NBC Sports as an incredibly complex trust. The upshot is that they do not own an individual percentage and would have to sell as a group — and agree to do so.
It's not hard to determine the motivations here. Jeanie Buss has kept a key role in the family business and is not looking to step away and give that up. Family members outside that circle feel differently.
About the only thing certain in another Buss family drama is that the big winners will be lawyers billing by the hour.
Opener pays price after scores of 23 and 0 in first Test defeat
Matthew Renshaw drafted into 13-man squad in his place
Jake Weatherald has paid the price for an underwhelming performance in Australia’s shock Test defeat to Bangladesh, with Matthew Renshaw drafted into a 13-man squad to replace the opener for the second and final match of the series starting on Saturday.
Weatherald went into the first Test in his home town of Darwin with a question mark over his place in the side, having largely failed to make an impact since coming into the Test set-up as a late-blooming debutant at the start of the 2025-26 Ashes series.
In this week’s Injury Report, an elbow injury resurfaces for Max Fried, putting the rest of his season in jeopardy. Hunter Goodman remained sidelined on Monday with a shoulder issue. And the A’s will be without Tyler Soderstrom as he deals with a lingering hip injury. All that and more as we highlight all of the most relevant injury news around the league.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Max Fried (elbow)
Carlos Rodon (elbow)
The Yankees placed Fried on the 15-day injured list on Monday, retroactive to August 14, with a left elbow bone bruise. It’s the same injury that sidelined Fried for 10 weeks earlier this season. Last Thursday’s start against the Mariners was his fifth since returning. It’s an incredibly tough blow as the 32-year-old left-hander had been pitching well since his return, giving up just five runs while striking out 29 batters over 24 2/3 innings. Given the time previously missed with the injury, it seems reasonable to believe Fried’s season could be over, but we should know more in the coming days. Meanwhile, Rodon will be stepping in to take Fried’s spot in the rotation. Rodon will start on Tuesday against the Orioles in his return after missing roughly six weeks with elbow inflammation.
The Padres crack the top 10 this week while chaos continues to rule the crowded American League playoff picture.
D.J. Short
,
Hunter Goodman (shoulder)
After missing three straight games with left shoulder inflammation, Goodman was initially back in the Rockies’ lineup on Monday for the series opener against the Dodgers. He was then scratched with the ongoing shoulder issue, sidelining him for the fourth consecutive game. Still, manager Warren Schaeffer called Goodman day-to-day with no decision on a placement on the injury list, for now. It’s a situation to watch over the next day or two. Losing Goodman would be a big blow to fantasy managers. The 26-year-old slugger is hitting .251/.320/.541 with 34 homers, 69 runs scored, and 69 RBI across 460 plate appearances.
Tyler Soderstrom (hip)
Soderstrom had sat two out of four games with a bothersome left hip, an issue that forced him to the injured list in July. On Sunday, the team placed him back on the injured list with a left hip impingement. He’ll now miss at least the next couple of weeks. Darell Hernaiz was recalled to take his place on the active roster. Carlos Cortes should see consistent time in left field in Soderstrom’s absence.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (concussion)
Guerrero came away with a headache after he was involved in a collision at third base in the sixth inning of Friday’s game against the Yankees. He was sliding into third when George Lombard Jr.’s knee caught the side of Guerrero’s head as Lombard was trying to field a throw to third base. Guerrero went through concussion protocol and was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list on Saturday.
Edward Cabrera (blister)
Daniel Palencia (elbow)
Cabrera developed a blister on his right middle finger during Sunday’s start against the Cardinals in which he allowed seven runs over 3 2/3 innings. He had previously dealt with a blister issue in May, but was confident he’d make his next start. Instead, the team opted to place him on the 15-day injured list on Monday, putting him on the shelf for at least the next couple of weeks. The 28-year-old right-hander has struggled on the mound, even when healthy, posting a 5.68 ERA over 76 innings. In the bullpen, Palencia should be slated to return at some point this week, despite moving to the 60-day injured list in what was only a procedural move. He struck out three of the four batters he faced in his fifth minor league rehab appearance on Sunday. With Jacob Webb pitching well in the closer role, there’s no guarantee Palencia will return to resume ninth-inning duties right away.
Dansby Swanson (oblique)
Swanson departed Sunday’s game against the Cardinals in the third inning with some side discomfort following a swing and miss, after which he doubled over in pain. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday and was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. The severity of the injury will likely keep him out for 4-6 weeks, potentially ending his regular season. With Swanson sidelined, Nico Hoerner will slide over to shortstop, with rookie Pedro Ramírez filling in at second base.
Trevor Story (abdomen)
Story could be in line to return to the Red Sox lineup this week. He told reporters on Monday that he was feeling fine physically after starting a minor league rehab assignment over the weekend. The 33-year-old shortstop has been out since mid-May recovering from sports hernia surgery. Story’s return could come as soon as Friday. He’ll stay with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday and Wednesday, then evaluate from there. Andruw Monasterio would likely shift to a utility role once Story is back in the lineup.
Bryan Woo (shoulder)
Woo completed six innings in his start against the Astros on Sunday but was lifted at 75 pitches after experiencing some shoulder soreness. There was a noticeable 1.5 mph dip in velocity in the sixth inning. He downplayed the injury, stating he wasn’t concerned about it. Even if his exit was out of precaution, it could be something to monitor this week. A potential stint on the injured list would open the door for top prospect Kade Anderson.
Cody Bellinger (hamstring)
Bellinger is nearing his return from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined since late July. Manager Aaron Boone indicated on Sunday that Bellinger could be playing in rehab games on Tuesday, but corrected his statement on Monday, saying he’d start his rehab assignment on Thursday or Friday. Still, he may only need a couple of games before he’s ready to return to the Yankees’ lineup early next week.
Konnor Griffin (finger)
In some good news for the Pirates, Griffin has been cleared to resume advanced baseball activities. The 20-year-old shortstop has been out since early July with a torn tendon in his left ring finger. There’s some optimism that he’ll be ready to return from the 60-day injured list when he’s first eligible in early September, putting him in line with the initial 8-10 week timetable.
Matt Renshaw’s abrupt call-up to face Bangladesh in Mackay will be the “last roll of the dice” for the Queenslander to resurrect his Test career, according to a former Australian great.
Green was the Mets vice president for player development before replacing fired manager Carlos Mendoza in the dugout in June.
The Mets have won 10 of their past 13 games. Overall, they are 23-22 under Green’s guidance.
“My expectation, Andy’s expectation, is he’s going to rejoin the front office, and I have no reason to believe otherwise right now,” Stearns said before the Mets’ 2-1 win over the Padres at Citi Field.
Are there any qualities Green has displayed that will inform Stearns as he looks to fill the position?
“When we get to that point, I will be able to talk more broadly and holistically about what we would be looking for in the next manager,” Stearns said. “I don’t think right now is the right time to have those conversations.”
David Stearns, the president of baseball operations for the Mets, speaks at a press conference before the game when the New York Mets played the San Diego Padres on Monday, August 17, 2026, at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Green’s familiarity with the young Mets players has been beneficial, according to Stearns.
“They know him, he knows them,” Stearns said. “He also has some familiarity with our veteran players and that wasn’t completely new to anyone as well. I think any time a manager steps into a new role, having those preexisting relationships is definitely beneficial.”
Jorge Polanco has played only two games on defense after arriving last winter as the primary first baseman. But Stearns said he doesn’t necessarily have to see Polanco, who has been slowed by ankle ailments, play the position this season to form an opinion for next year.
“I think the most important thing for [Polanco] is to get him on a path where he is physically in a much better place in 2027 than he has been this year, and that’s our focus,” Stearns said.
Luis Robert Jr. returned to center field a day after starting his first major league game in left field. Robert didn’t receive any chances in the field Sunday. The next step in the progression for Robert will be receiving consecutive starts in left, according to Green.
Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns beat American pair 6-2, 1-6, 10-8
Serena and Venus enjoy ‘fun’ on-court reunion despite defeat
Serena and Venus Williams played their first doubles match together since the 2022 US Open and lost a thriller, 2-6, 6-1, 10-8 to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns at the Cincinnati Open.
The sisters nearly recovered from a 6-0 deficit in the match tiebreaker before a double-fault by Venus Williams ended their first doubles appearance in a non-grand slam event since the Italian Open in 2016.
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 17: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his RBI double in the eighth inning as Connor Norby #35 of the Colorado Rockies looks on at Coors Field on August 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers needed a get-right game, and apparently all they needed to do was come to Coors Field.
After going 5-11 in their last 16 games, being swept by the Red Sox and Cubs, while also dropping series to the Diamondbacks and Brewers, the Dodgers looked their regular selves on Monday, hitting three homers, while Blake Snell held the Rockies to two hits and one run in six innings on the way to a 11-5 blowout.
To summarize the vibe of the night, through eight innings, the Rockies had as many hits — two — as fielding errors and the best part of the broadcast was the footage from the Savannah Bananas takeover of Coors Field over the weekend.
At least the Rockies tried to come back, putting up a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
Good 1, then downhill
It only took nine pitches for Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) to retire the mighty top of the Dodgers lineup — Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages — on three ground balls in the first.
The Dodgers got on the scoreboard in the second and again in the third and a familiar Rockies killer was behind it all: Max Muncy. In the second inning, Muncy drew a walk and came around to score on a double by Mookie Betts. Sugano was able to prevent further damage in the second, but it got worse in the third.
With one out, Ohtani, Freeman and Pages hit back-to-back-to-back singles to put the Dodgers up 2-0. Then Muncy did what he does best – hit homers and drive in runs at Coors Field. His towering shot went 461 feet to the second deck of the right field stands, increasing L.A.’s lead to 5-0.
“I saw [Sugano get] behind in counts, which is abnormal for him, and then missing over the heart of the plate a little much for that lineup. They are not going to bite,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said of Sugano’s performance. “Everybody knows that those guys bring you in the zone. And I think that was the case early on with some offspeed pitches that borderline navigated their way out of the zone, and they didn’t bite. They got in good counts and that’s how they do their damage.”
Sugano left after five innings, giving up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk. He’s now 0-3 against the Dodgers this season in three starts. The good news is that he won’t have to face them again in 2026.
Juan Mejia didn’t fare much better in the sixth when he gave up another homer to Ohtani, an RBI double to Freeman and an RBI single to Pages. Just like that, it was 10-1.
Wasting walks and chances
When a team faces Snell, despite this being only his third start in an injury-riddled season, it’s going to be tough, and you can’t afford to miss your chances. But the Rockies missed a big chance in the third. Adael Amador, Brett Sullivan and Ezequiel Tovar drew three consecutive walks to lead off the inning to bring Jake McCarthy to the plate. Usually a clutch hitter with runners in scoring position, McCarthy was only able to muster a fielder’s choice to score Amador. Jordan Beck flied out to shallow center and Cole Carrigg struck out to end the threat.
“Snell is really good. So he’s going to make an adjustment,” Schaeffer said. “Against a guy like that, you get a shot to have a big inning off of him and then it’s tough to get that shot again. We just didn’t get the job done.”
After three innings, Snell had held the Rockies hitless and surrendered the one run on three walks. The Rockies finally got their first hit in the fourth inning when TJ Rumfield and Connor Norby hit back-to-back singles with one out. The Rockies again weren’t able to capitalize as Amador struck out and Sullivan popped out.
The Rockies had seven total base runners through the first eight innings, but went 0-for-6 with RISP and left four on base. Norby reached once on an error, but it was an uneventful night at the plate for the Rockies vs. Snell and the Dodgers bullpen. That was until the ninth when Edwin Díaz came in.
And now pitching for the Rockies …
TJ Shook, who was just recalled by the Rockies earlier on Monday, pitched must better, only allowing one run on two hits — which were made worse by a fielding error by Cole Carrigg — in two innings.
For the ninth, with the Rockies regular pitching position player Sullivan behind the plate, Troy Johnston entered the game to pitch. The utilityman gave up a hit by a pitch and a walk, but didn’t allow a run.
“Usually that’s Sully, but with Goody [Hunter Goodman] being hurt, we didn’t want to put him in the ball game. I think that would probably be malpractice,” Schaeffer said. “So Troy’s the next man up and I thought he did a really nice job. He got to pitch in the big leagues.”
A rally in the ninth
Not only did Johnston put up a scoreless frame on the mound, but he also hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. After Willi Castro led off with a single and Rumfield reached after being hit by a pitch, Johnston came up clutch. Amador followed suit with an RBI single of his own, while Sullivan followed with a single, which set up a sac fly from Tovar. Zac Veen then continued his hot start with the Rockies since being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Aug. 11 with an RBI double.
Unfortunately, Beck then flied out to end the rally and game.
In the ninth, the Rockies tripled their hit count and more than doubled their runs compared to the previous eight innings.
Up next
The Rockies and Dodgers will be back in action on Tuesday night at 6:40 p.m. at Coors Field. Colorado will send RHP Ryan Feltner (5-6, 5.59) to the mound, while LHP Eric Lauer (6-1, 3.48) will start for Los Angeles.
Nolan McLean allowed seven consecutive batters to reach base in the first and second innings Monday night.
Only one run scored over that stretch.
It was a charmed life indeed for the right-hander, who watched two other rookies — Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing — combine to nail three runners at the plate in the Mets’ 2-1 victory over the Padres at Citi Field.
“That fires me up,” McLean said. “It’s saving not only the team runs, but me as well.”
Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres is out at home as Nolan McLean of the New York Mets celebrates in the first inning at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City on Monday, August 17, 2026. Getty Images
McLean survived the rocky terrain to pitch six innings, allowing one earned run on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Jonathan Pintaro, Nate Lavender and Daniel Duarte handled the final three innings, scoreless.
Benge threw out Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado at the plate in succession to conclude the first inning. In the frame, McLean surrendered four straight singles after snagging Fernando Tatis Jr.’s line-drive comebacker.
Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) tags out San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth (9) trying to score at home on a single by Ty France (25) during the first inning at Citi Field in Queens, NY, on Monday, August 17, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
McLean was spotted a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Bo Bichette’s RBI single and Luis Robert Jr.’s sacrifice fly.
In the second, McLean walked Xander Bogaerts (his second walk of the inning) to load the bases with nobody out after drilling Gavin Sheets. McLean escaped, allowing one run, after fielding a comebacker, throwing home for the force and then getting Tatis to fly out for an RBI. But the big play was Ewing scooping up Cronenworth’s single and throwing out Bogaerts at the plate to conclude the inning.
New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean pitches against the San Diego Padres during the second inning at Citi Field in New York City on Monday, August 17, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
McLean’s start was his 10th in his past 11 in which he pitched at least six innings. It was also his 12th start in his past 14 of allowing two earned runs or fewer. Over that stretch, he’s pitched to a 2.55 ERA.
“He was a little lucky at the outset,” interim manager Andy Green said. “But the competitor that he is, he didn’t let his first two innings dictate the next four. He was really good from that point.”
McLean pitched to soft contact early in the first inning when he surrendered four straight singles.
“Some pretty unlucky hits early from a how-hard-they-were-hit standpoint,” McLean said. “I had a hard time getting a grip on the ball early in the game. I was able to find it a little bit later, which helped me get through it.”
It's officially another season, another prospects ranking for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In years past, this has been a bit easier of an exercise, as there used to be a more clear-cut line between prospects with NHL upside and longshots. However, because of the work that general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and his staff have put in during the last several years, the line is blurring a whole lot more - and there is a substantially higher volume of talent in the system.
This time around, making a top-20 list was challenging. So, a few criteria were put into place: To make our list, prospects must be under the age of 26 and have played less than 50 NHL games. This excludes names such as Ben Kindel, Filip Hallander, Oliver Okuliar, and Alexander Alexeyev.
At No. 9, we put a spotlight on Liam Ruck, who could continue to climb this list as he moves forward in his development. At No. 8, we look at defenseman who experienced a fair amount of growth in the back half of the 2025-26 AHL season and who the Penguins still believe has a place in their future.
For a while, it looked like Pickering, 22, had hit a wall in his development. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound blueliner has played in 29 career NHL games (one goal, three points), with only four of them last season involving mixed results. After showing some promise as a rookie in 2024-25 at the beginning of his NHL stint that year, he, arguably, started to regress a bit in the time that followed.
But, in the second half of the 2025-26 AHL season and into the Calder Cup Playoffs for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), he seemed to turn a corner.
Many of the inconsistencies - particularly on the defensive side of the puck - began to iron themselves out over the course of the season. The lack of quick processing that was plaguing his professional game seemed to get up to speed, his skating improved, and he was becoming more of a two-way threat.
The biggest difference is that these things are no longer happening few and far between, and his less-than-ideal performances are happening fewer and farther between. That consistency and reliability is the one sticking point that the Penguins' development staff wanted to see growth in for Pickering, and he managed to accomplish that.
And if Pickering can translate that consistency and reliability to the NHL level, the Penguins will be much better for it, especially on a left side that could use some higher-upside young blueliners.
"We're really happy with how far he came [last season]," WBS assistant general manager Amanda Kessel said during development camp. "Instead of having one good game, one bad game, he's somebody that strung a lot together. There were still moments and times, but those were fewer and far between, and that's really what we're looking for.
"Everything in the gym, too, he came back last summer even better, and [we] thought that he had a good start. And, so, we expect the same thing for him [this season]."
These topics and more covered by Amanda Kessel today at Penguins Development Camp 📷 🎤 pic.twitter.com/sjhEm7BAco
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) July 2, 2026
Pickering finished the AHL season with seven goals and 28 points in 68 games in addition to a goal and four points in 11 playoff games. He showed capability running the second power play unit in WBS, and he also took on heavy penalty kill minutes. An injury limited him a bit during the playoffs and caused him to miss four games, but he was very good in all three zones during the 11 games that he played in.
Development isn't always linear for defensemen - particularly, for big defensemen, who have to grow into their frame and learn how to use it properly at NHL speed - and the Penguins know this. Dubas, like Kessel, was happy with Pickering's progression last season, and he believes that he can be a contributor for the NHL club moving forward.
"You might say, going back to his time [with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL], the coordination, balance... all those things that are common when you have a 6-foot-5, 180, then 190, 200-pound guy, it takes some time for that to come together.
"But we've been very happy with the way that Owen [came on] in the second half of the year. I don't think you look at it and say it was anything truly dynamic, but it was steady, solid, reliable hockey, and that's what we're looking for him to develop into."
The left side is a bit of a hodge podge for the Penguins right now, as they feature Sam Girard, Declan Carlile, Trevor van Riemsdyk (right-handed but plays both sides), Caleb Jones, and Jake Livanavage as other candidates to see NHL minutes. That said, the battle for positioning there is pretty wide-open considering the lack of true high-end talent on that side.
So, this season could say a lot about both where Pickering is in his development and how soon - or if it all - the Penguins envision him as part of their future. Given his growth in the past year, he may need a bit of time to fully develop, but there is reason to believe he may just turn into a reliable, bottom-four NHL defenseman for them in the years to come.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 17: Alan Roden #18 of the Minnesota Twins runs to first in the first inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, August 17, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Turner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Yesterday against the Phillies, the Twins scored four in the first, failed to add on in the middle innings, and ended up losing the game after the bullpen blew the lead. Tonight, the Twins scored four in the first, failed to add on in the middle innings, but won the game when the bullpen was able to preserve the lead. Though, they were one nice Kody Clemens play away from this being almost exactly the same as yesterday.
Let’s start at the beginning.
After a short rain delay, the Twins came into this outing with a clear strategy against old friend Martín Perez: don’t swing at anything low if you don’t have two strikes, and it worked very well as Perez couldn’t find the bottom of the zone early. The first six Minnesota batters reached to give the Twins an early advantage.
Luke Keaschall led off the bottom of the first with a hustle double, then Perez walked both Byron Buxton and Ryan Jeffers to load the bases for the middle of the lineup. Josh Bell then hit a two run double to give the Twins an early lead, but however you’re picturing this Bell double came to pass, you’re almost definitely wrong.
The broken bat double had an exit velo of 70 MPH and a 44 degree launch angle, an easy fly out if the ball was placed literally anywhere else on the field. A little BABIP luck spun it into the stands and, after some of the bad breaks Minnesota got yesterday, they’re surely happy to even the score in that department. Royce Lewis and Kody Clemens singled on the next two pitches to make it 4-0 Twins, but weren’t able to add on from there as Perez was suddenly able to find the bottom of the zone, rendering their initial strategy moot.
On the other side, things were once again shaky for Bailey Ober, who struggled to crack 87 MPH with his fastball which somehow continues to trend downward. Ober has always been a pitcher who relied more on control than stuff, but back when he was sitting 92-93 MPH, it was much more manageable. The separation he could get between that and his changeup was elite. Now, the changeup is still good, but his four seamer being so slow gives these hitters plenty of time to react and adjust, especially ones as star-studded as this Atlanta lineup.
The Braves were hitting the ball hard off of Ober, but the Twins got lucky as most of those ended in singles or outs. Ober looked to finally be getting into a groove in the third and fourth, but ran into trouble in the fifth when an Austin Riley single and Drake Baldwin double put two in scoring position for Ronald Acuña Jr., who promptly drove them in to get the game to 4-2. Derek Shelton turned to veteran lefty Taylor Rogers, who channeled his old self to get Matt Olson and Michael Harris II to get his team out of the jam.
The Twins had a few chances to add on, but the biggest came in the eighth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. Brooks Lee was hit by a pitch to start the inning, Kaelen Culpepper had a long AB that ended in a hard hit single, and then Alan Roden laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that the pitcher misplayed, allowing Roden to reach as well and juicing the bases with the top of the lineup coming around. Unfortunately, the NOBLETIGER population is robust in Minnesota in the summer months. Keaschall and Buxton both popped up to first base and Jeffers hit a sharp grounder right at Ozzie Albies to end the threat.
It wouldn’t be a Twins win without a touch of disappointment, right?
Jeff Hoffman and Yoendrys Gomez provided some nail-biting moments toward the end of the game as well. All-Star Matt Olson doubled off of Hoffman with one out in the eighth. Michael Harris then hit a hard grounder to second base, where Clemens made one of the best defensive plays of his career to keep Olson from scoring and record the second out.
Hoffman walked one more Brave to bring up Ozzie Albies as the go-ahead run, who proceeded to hit a deep fly ball to left that stayed in the park. No harm, no foul, three outs, next inning.
Gomez saw what Hoffman did and wanted in on that action, walking the leadoff batter in the ninth inning to make sure he had no room for error to every other batter. He got the next two Braves out, but that turned the lineup back over the All-Star catcher Drake Baldwin, who just missed a game-tying home run, hitting it 369 feet out to Kody Clemens in left field where the wall measured about 370 feet.
No harm (barely), no foul (a foulout would have been preferred), no more innings (phew). Twins hang on to beat one of the best teams in baseball and move a half game out of the third Wild Card spot, which is currently a three way tie between the Orioles, Rangers, and Tigers at 61-64.
STUDS
Luke Keaschall: 2-5, R, 2B, has reached base at least twice in 10 of his past 14 games
Josh Bell, 2-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2B
Travis Adams: 2 perfect innings after a short Ober start, 3 K, looked absolutely electric in both innings
DUDS
NO DUDS TWINS WIN!!
We’ll see you tomorrow night where the Twins will be facing Minnesota legend Tyler Mahle.
There was a whole lot that went right for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2025-26, including a good second half that secured their first playoff berth in four years.
For most, the second half saw individual surges, too, whether in terms of production or, simply, overall growth. But, unfortunately, that wasn't the case for everyone.
One of the players who largely struggled in the back half of the season is big winger Justin Brazeau.
Brazeau, 28, signed a two-year deal with the Penguins last summer after his first full NHL season split between the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild. He got off to a raging start in 2025-26, registering 12 of his 17 goals and 20 of his 34 points before Jan. 1 - and, at one point early on in the season, he was the league's leading goal-scorer. His production tailed off pretty significantly in the second half, which resulted in some healthy scratches that extended into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
And given the way everything panned out on the forward front for general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas this summer, things aren't about to get any easier for Brazeau.
In addition to giving youngster Ville Koivunen an eight-year, $32 million extension, Dubas and the Penguins also added forwards Nicholas Robertson, Hendrix Lapierre, and Andrei Kuzmenko this offseason, which adds some talent to an already-crowded crop of forwards. That's not to mention the fact that prospects such as Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz, Tanner Howe, Avery Hayes, and Bill Zonnon will all be making pretty big pushes, too.
It will be an uphill climb for Brazeau to be able to crack the lineup on a regular basis, and perhaps even a battle for him to avoid the waiver wire at the conclusion of camp. So, can he replicate what he did in the first half last season, or was his start a career anomaly that he probably won't repeat?
For starters, much of his production last season came on a line with center Evgeni Malkin and winger Anthony Mantha, and that line found a lot of success with every player being at least 6-foot-5 and using that size to overwhelm opponents. But with Mantha leaving in free agency and Malkin's days as a center likely over, that line cannot be replicated.
Maybe Brazeau was a product of his line's overall effectiveness, maybe he wasn't. But the one encouraging thing about him is that he has a nice set of hands and is good around the net-front. The 6-foot-6, 232-pound right winger is a master at redirecting pucks, stickhandling in tight spaces, and creating havoc at the net front.
Theoretically, if he could be paired with linemates who excel at puck distribution and getting pucks to the net, he should be able to gain some traction. He is a good enough forehecker that he can be an effective complementary piece on a line with a playmaking center and a primary scoring winger.
Evgeni Malkin with the aggressive face-off win finds Justin Brazeau in front for the goal 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/XalYXtRkLH
The issue is that, when Brazeau is not showing up on the scoresheet, he offers little else. He's not a particularly standout defensive player, he doesn't have the footspeed to drive the middle of the ice effectively, and he doesn't create all that much on his own. He has the ability and awareness to make some nifty plays, but much of that can be accredited to his long reach and stickhandling.
Basically, Brazeau is a top-nine player, and top-nine minutes are going to be very hard to come by this season. He needs to have a standout camp in order to best the likes of Kuzmenko, Robertson, Koivunen, and Elmer Soderblom, and he needs to maintain consistency throughout the season if he is to hold down an earned lineup spot.
The more forward depth the Penguins, have, the better, and Brazeau finding his form again would be a major development for them. Regardless, this season may be make-it-or-break-it for the late-blooming undrafted forward, as training camp could end up determining his fate for the 2026-27 season and beyond.
D.J. Short
